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Car Accidents | Truck Accidents | Pedestrian Accidents | Slip & Fall/Premises Liability | Wrongful Death
All Is Merry and Bright Embracing the Spirit of the Holidays
Temperatures are a bit cooler (yes, even in the Sunshine State), decorations are up, houses are flooded with delicious scents from baking goodies, and Christmas lights glisten up and down every street — the holidays are here!
of the greatest displays out there. This year, we cannot wait to witness the beauty of the lights through our daughter’s eyes — I’m sure she will love it just as much as we do! As we gather together with family and friends to celebrate Hanukkah, I’ll be in my happy place — with those who matter the most. After all, that’s what the holidays are about — spending quality celebratory time with family and loved ones! Shortly after the holiday festivities, we will bid farewell to 2022 and welcome 2023 with hopes for a fantastic year. For me, the end of the year has always been about ending on a strong and high note. This one will not be any different! We are currently on pace to have the best year ever at the firm. We’ve had the opportunity to assist more people with car crashes, slip- and-fall accidents, and other personal injury cases in 2022 than in the previous three years combined — it’s been a record year, and I’m not done yet! I cannot wait to see what the new year has in store for us. But having a great year is about much more than just making money. It’s about the lives we have touched and impacted positively, whether it’s the lives of our clients or our employees. We help to provide income for the families of those we employ as we welcome them into our family. I feel incredibly fortunate and blessed for the opportunity to touch so many lives while continuing to make a difference. The fulfillment I’ve found is incredible.
If you know me, you know happiness, joy, family, and celebration are some of my favorite things, and the holidays wrap all of those up with a giant bow and bring them all together! In my family, Hanukkah is always a fun and exciting celebration. Last year was my daughter Ziva’s first Hanukkah. This year, she will be old enough to partake in some of the fun and excitement, like lighting the menorah. As we just experienced Halloween with her, watching her enjoy all of the festivities taking place around her was amazing — I can’t wait to see how she reacts to our holiday traditions. And, speaking of traditions, as I’ve mentioned in previous newsletters, my wife, Marisa, and I absolutely love Christmas lights. We’ve been known to travel far and wide in search of some
From my family to you and yours, happy holidays and happy Hanukkah! May you have a fabulous time celebrating with your family and loved ones! Happy New Year!
-Louis Bernardo Berk
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Melanie Shaha is currently fighting her third brain cancer battle. For 15 years, she’s been suffering from a benign tumor on her pituitary gland. Although she doesn’t mind being sick, going to her appointments, focusing on her treatment, and talking to loved ones about her cancer, she doesn’t like looking sick. If you didn’t know Shaha, you wouldn’t realize she was battling cancer. But this suddenly changed once she lost all of her hair. She had two surgeries, in 2003 and 2006, in hopes of removing the tumor on her pituitary gland, but they weren’t successful. Then, when she began radiation therapy in 2017, the treatment caused her hair to fall out. “Not having hair [makes] you stick out like a sore thumb, and well- meaning people can say things that break your heart,” Shaha told TODAY. She didn’t like all the attention and the looks people gave her in public. So, her 27-year-old son Matt had an idea. At first, Matt joked about cutting all of his hair off to make his mother a wig. But the joke soon became a plan, and Matt followed through in 2018. Locks of Love Son Makes a Wig for His Mother
him from cutting it, but Matt wanted to help her feel confident and comfortable in her skin. So, he chopped it off and sent his locks to Compassionate Creations, a hair company in Newport Beach, California, that created a wig for his mother. Now, Shaha has a piece of her son to take everywhere with her beautiful new tresses. “The color is spectacular, and we had it cut and styled with a hairdresser. Matt said it looked great on me. It sure fills your emotional cup,” Shaha says. If you — or someone you know — would like to donate your hair to cancer patients, you can donate to Locks of Love, Wigs For Kids, Chai Lifeline, and Children With Hair Loss. Research donation centers in your area if you would like to give back locally. Holiday Shopping Scams Businesses boom during the holiday season because more people buy their products and services. But this means potential scams can also increase, but you can do a few things to ensure your personal information and banking details are safe. You may see products online or advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok that pique your interest. But before you click “buy,” ensure the website is legitimate. Search for the product on a search engine to see if the same links appear. Carefully read reviews, look for website security credentials, and research unknown retailers before purchasing. It’s better to take extra precautions to ensure your information isn’t compromised. In addition, never use public Wi-Fi when purchasing items online. You’re more likely to be hacked when the Wi-Fi connection isn’t protected or in a secure network. Hackers tap into public internet sources and intercept your data through techniques like eavesdropping. Although it’s appealing to use public Wi-Fi because you think it’s free, it’s not. You pay with your personal information and data. If you or someone you know is a victim of fraud, report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online or by phone at 1-877-382-4357. For more information on scams, fraud, and identity theft, go to USA.gov/scams-and-frauds to learn how to protect yourself better.
After graduating from college, Matt began growing his hair out. In no time, he had long and luscious hair. His mother tried to dissuade
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emails like these are all too common; unfortunately, millions of people’s data is compromised as a result. Understandably, when you first receive these scam emails, you panic because you think they are legitimate. But remember, USPS, UPS, Amazon, and FedEx won’t ask for personal information over email. A good rule of thumb is never to click on links in emails — even from the actual company. Scammers are very good at making their emails look authentic. Instead, go to the delivery company’s website and log in to your account. If action is required, you should see a notification in your portal. Alternatively, you can call the business’s customer service line to check if their email is authentic.
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TAKE A BREAK
We’ve all felt anxious, guilty, fearful, and sad — it’s a part of life. Perhaps you’ve tried to avoid or suppress these emotions, but you’re not a rock. As humans, we experience these feelings all the time. Trying to control them may only make matters worse. So, instead, focus on something you can control — your actions. That’s the central premise of Mark Freeman’s mental health book “You Are Not a Rock.” He aims to teach readers how to build emotional fitness and overcome their struggles and hardships with different techniques. The book is divided into two sections titled “The Basics” and “The Transformation.” The first half is about learning basic mental health skills and unlearning ways of thinking about mental health that cause us challenges. The second half focuses on how to create and build what you want to see in your life instead of trying to avoid and control what you can’t see. As you read, you’ll learn how to recognize your problems, practice mindfulness, prioritize and follow your values, and understand your fears. The strategies in “You Are Not a Rock” are the same tactics Freeman used in his personal TIRED OF FEELING ANXIOUS AND FEARFUL? Read ‘You Are Not a Rock’ by Mark Freeman
life, and he shares some of those stories in the book. There are exercises at the end of each chapter
WINTER VEGETABLE SHEPHERD’S PIE
Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
that Freeman highly encourages you to
Ingredients
complete. By performing these exercises, you can better understand the book’s contents and implement Freeman’s tactics in your life. Before Freeman helps readers begin their journey, he states that strengthening your mental health is like working on your physical health — you won’t see
• 6 1/2 cups potatoes, cut into large chunks • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 onions, sliced • 1 tbsp flour • 2 large carrots, cut into rounds • 1/2 cauliflower, broken into florets
• 4 garlic cloves, sliced • 1 sprig rosemary • 15-oz can diced tomatoes plus liquid • 1/2 cup water • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas • Milk, to desired consistency
Directions
1. In a pot, boil potatoes until tender. 2. In a pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add carrots, cauliflower, garlic, and rosemary and stir until softened. 3. Pour tomatoes into mix and add water. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes, then remove lid and cook for 15 minutes until thickened. Stir in peas and simmer. 4. Drain and mash potatoes. Stir in milk to desired consistency. 5. Preheat oven to 375 F. Spoon hot vegetable mix into pie dish, then top with mashed potatoes. Bake until top is golden brown.
instant results. “Changing your brain takes time and effort … I’m not going to share with you any magical supplements or special mantras. This is simply a book about actions,” Freeman says in his introduction. If you’re interested in reading “You Are Not a Rock,” you can purchase your copy wherever books are sold online or in bookstores.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Happy Hanukkah!
What Started as a Joke Became Reality
Winter Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie Tired of Feeling Anxious and Fearful?
3
Protect Your Personal Data From Scammers
4
We get busy shopping for Christmas gifts online and in-store during the holiday season. It’s the season that keeps on giving — but not for all. Scammers will devise clever ways to con you out of your hard-earned money. Some will take advantage of your generosity. So, as you scroll through shopping websites and wait for your gifts to come in the mail, be sure to protect yourself from scammers. Here are some tips. Holiday Mail Scams Shipping companies will give you updates and status on your items when you order something online or ship a package off. Although this tool is excellent for tracking where your orders are, scammers will send phishing emails pretending to be these shipping companies. These emails claim your package is lost or more information is needed to process your order or shipment. Some may have a webpage link for you to submit personal information. Phishing How to Avoid Holiday Scams ’Tis the Season for Giving — Not Stealing
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www.LouisBerkLaw.com 407-906-0500 December 2022
Car Accidents | Truck Accidents | Pedestrian Accidents | Slip & Fall/Premises Liability | Wrongful Death
Todo es alegre y resplandeciente Dejándose llevar por el espíritu de las fiestas
La temperatura es un poco más fría (sí, incluso cuando está soleado), los adornos están puestos, las casas se inundan de deliciosos aromas de bocadillos horneados y las luces navideñas brillan en todas las calles: ¡la temporada festiva ha llegado! Si me conocen, saben que la felicidad, la alegría, la familia y la celebración son algunas de las cosas que más me gustan, ¡y la temporada festiva envuelve todo esto con un moño gigante y lo reúne en un solo lugar! Para mi familia, la Janucá siempre es una celebración divertida y emocionante. El año pasado fue la primera Janucá de mi hija Ziva. Este año, ella tendrá la edad suficiente para participar en algunas de las actividades divertidas y emocionantes, como encender la menorá. Como acabamos de experimentar el Halloween con ella, verla disfrutar de todos los festejos que se llevaron a cabo a su alrededor fue increíble. No puedo esperar a ver cómo reacciona a nuestras tradiciones navideñas.
los ojos de nuestra hija. ¡Tengo la certeza de que le encantarán tanto como a nosotros!
Mientras nos reunimos con familiares y amigos para celebrar la Janucá, estaré en mi lugar feliz, con aquellos que más importan. Después de todo, de eso se trata la temporada festiva: ¡pasar tiempo de celebración de calidad con la familia y los seres queridos! Poco después de las festividades navideñas, despediremos el 2022 y daremos la bienvenida al 2023 con la esperanza de que sea un año fantástico. Para mí, el final del año siempre se ha tratado de cerrar con toda la fuerza y el impulso. ¡Esta vez no será diferente! Actualmente, estamos en camino a lograr el mejor año en la empresa. En comparación con los tres años anteriores juntos, en 2022 hemos tenido la oportunidad de ayudar a más personas en accidentes automovilísticos, accidentes por resbalones y caídas y otros casos de lesiones personales. ¡Ha sido un año récord y todavía no termino! No puedo esperar a ver qué nos deparará el nuevo año. Pero tener un buen año se trata de mucho más que solo ganar dinero. Se trata de las vidas que hemos tocado y transformado positivamente, ya sean las vidas de nuestros clientes o las de nuestros empleados. Ayudamos a generar ingresos para las familias de aquellos a quienes les damos trabajo al dejarlos ser parte de nuestra familia. Para mí se siente como una gran fortuna y bendición tener la oportunidad de tocar tantas vidas mientras seguimos haciendo la diferencia. La satisfacción que he hallado es increíble.
De parte de mi familia para ustedes y sus seres queridos: ¡felices fiestas y feliz Janucá! ¡Que la pasen de lo mejor celebrando con su familia y sus seres queridos! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! -Louis Bernardo Berk
Y, hablando de tradiciones, como mencioné en boletines anteriores, a mi esposa, Marisa, y a mí nos encantan las luces navideñas. Todos saben que andamos de aquí para allá en busca de algunas de las mejores exhibiciones que existen. Este año, no podemos esperar para admirar la belleza de las luces a través de
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Mechones de amor Un hijo le hace una peluca a su madre
Actualmente, Melanie Shaha libra su tercera batalla contra el cáncer cerebral. Durante 15 años ha padecido los efectos de un tumor benigno en la glándula pituitaria. Aunque no le importa estar enferma, acudir a sus consultas médicas, concentrarse en su tratamiento y hablar con sus seres queridos sobre su cáncer, no le gusta lucir enferma. Si no supieras que Shaha está luchando contra el cáncer, no te darías cuenta. Pero esto cambió de repente el momento en que perdió todo su cabello. Fue sometida a dos cirugías, en 2003 y 2006, con la esperanza de extirpar el tumor en su glándula pituitaria, pero no tuvieron éxito. Posteriormente, cuando comenzó la radioterapia en 2017, el tratamiento hizo que se le cayera el cabello. “No tener cabello hace que destaques como un faro, y gente bien intencionada puede decir cosas que te rompen el corazón”, declaró Shaha a TODAY. No le gustaba toda la atención y las miradas que la gente le dedicaba en público. Así que Matt, su hijo de 27 años, tuvo una idea. Al principio, Matt bromeó con la idea de cortarse todo el cabello para hacerle una peluca a su madre. Pero la broma pronto pasó a ser un plan y Matt lo llevó a cabo en 2018. Después de graduarse en la universidad, Matt empezó a dejarse crecer el cabello. En poco tiempo, tuvo una larga y abundante cabellera. Su madre intentó disuadirlo para que no se lo cortara,
pero Matt quería ayudarla a sentirse segura y cómoda en su piel. Así que se lo cortó y envió esos mechones a Compassionate Creations, una empresa capilar de Newport Beach, California, que elaboró una peluca para su madre. Ahora, Shaha tiene un pedazo de su hijo que la acompaña a todas partes con sus hermosas trenzas nuevas. “El color es espectacular y la mandamos a cortar y peinar con un peluquero. Matt dijo que me quedaba muy bien. Desde luego, es algo que te llena el vaso emocional”, dice Shaha. Si tú, o alguien que conoces, quiere donar su cabello a pacientes con cáncer, puedes hacerlo a Locks of Love, Wigs For Kids, Chai Lifeline y Children With Hair Loss. Investiga acerca de los centros de donación en tu área si quieres contribuir a nivel local.
Ingredientes
Instrucciones 1. En una olla, hervir las papas hasta que se ablanden. 2. En otra olla, calentar aceite a fuego medio. Agregar harina y revolver, cocinando por 2 minutos. Agregar las zanahorias, el coliflor, el ajo y el romero y revolver hasta que se ablanden. 3. Incorporar los tomates a la mezcla y agregar agua. Tapar y dejar hervir a fuego lento por 10 minutos, luego quitar la tapa y cocinar por 15 minutos hasta que espese. Incorporar las arvejas revolviendo y cocinar a fuego lento. 4. Colar y pisar las papas. Incorporar la leche mezclando, hasta obtener la consistencia deseada. 5. Precalentar el horno a 375°F. Agregar la mezcla caliente de vegetales a una fuente para pasteles, luego coronar con el puré de papas. Hornear hasta dorar.
PASTEL DE “CARNE” Y PURÉ DE PAPAS VEGETARIANO
• 6 1/2 tazas de papas, cortadas en pedazos grandes • 2 cditas de aceite de oliva • 2 cebollas, cortadas en rodajas • 1 cdita de harina • 2 zanahorias grandes, cortadas en rodajas • 1/2 coliflor, cortada en sus cabezuelas • 4 dientes de ajo, cortado en rodajas • 1 ramito de romero • Lata de 15 onzas de tomates cortados en cubos, más su líquido • 1/2 taza de agua • 1 1/2 tazas de arvejas congeladas • Leche, hasta obtener la consistencia deseada
DE INVIERNO Inspirado en BBCGoodFood.com
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